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Pension Credit or UC
I’ve put up some more detailed initial thoughts about the effects of this, over the rates amounts, at https://benefitsinthefuture.com. Notice the additions from Daphne and Gary Vaux in the comments.
excellent article Gareth - thanks
so unfair on the older partner to miss out on their extra money just because they have a younger partner. hopefully CPAG will challenge this and there will be another last minute U turn.
so unfair on the older partner to miss out on their extra money just because they have a younger partner. hopefully CPAG will challenge this and there will be another last minute U turn.
Arguably it’s a bit late for that as this is just a commencement order and the legislation was, I believe, actually passed back in 2012.
Also, this is oldies not kids so not really in CPAG’s strategic priorities for legal casework (which isn’t any criticism at all by the way, simply an acknowledgement that they have to work to their own priorities and cannot challenge everything).
We’ve issued a press release Age UK warns of devastating impact of policy announcement that will leave pensioners thousands of pounds worse off
Also have meeting with officials next week so if you have any particular questions about how this might work in practice, happy to corrall and see what can be established.
[ Edited: 15 Jan 2019 at 09:10 pm by Paul_Treloar_AgeUK ]The Indie has noticed - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/pension-credit-cut-benefits-payment-government-austerity-conservatives-brexit-a8728631.html
- but not anyone else in media-land(?)
The Grauniad
Singed, an expert.
Patrick Butler of the Guardian covered it Benefits rule changes could cost pensioners in UK thousands a year
Oh and the Mirror covered it too Pension Credit: Tories ‘sneak out’ change that could cost couples £7,000 a year
Having a brain-melt here and may be asking a foolish question - where does someone stand if they are eligible to claim Working Tax Credit and they or partner have reached PC age?
Having a brain-melt here and may be asking a foolish question - where does someone stand if they are eligible to claim Working Tax Credit and they or partner have reached PC age?
WTC abolished with nothing to replace it for PC eligible claimants. Therefore only choice is to claim UC instead.
At the risk of looking more of a fule, gov.uk says this -
Eligibility
Working Tax Credit has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people.
You can still make a new claim for Working Tax Credit if either:
you have 3 or more children
[which will of course go on 1/2/19]
you or your partner have reached Pension Credit qualifying age
[is this incorrect now or does it change on 15/5/19?]
I don’t come across many - or any - cases as such, but it’s bothering me now.
Sorry Andrew, I didn’t mean WTC abolished in the immediate here and now, I meant as/when new WTC claims stops. I have to admit, by replying to you, I’ve realised that I don’t know when that is either, although it would make some kind of devilish logic if this was also 1 February 2019 when the child elements for PC claims kick in.
Might be able to update next week as we’re meeting DWP on Tuesday so will let you know if/when we know more.
Thanks Paul!
Just having a discussion here in the office but no consensus reached!
Will a mixed age couple (who wouldn’t have been able to claim PC but still get some HB) still be able to claim HB after May or will they be forced to claim UC for help with housing costs?
They won’t be able to make a brand new HB claim if not already on SPC, no. They will have to claim UC and pay the Rod Stewart Tax*. It means they won’t get as much because (1) their income is likely to be of a sort that is tapered at 100% in UC compared with 65% in HB and (2) the equivalent of the HB applicable amount (couple standard element) is less than half what it would have been on HB.
*I prefer this to Toy Boy Tax, do you think it might catch on?